I prefer placing punctuation next to the closing quotation mark like this:
I'm watching "Titanic".
However, when there is already a punctuation within the quote, is it right to add another punctuation after the quote?
Did you say "Hello?"?
No, I didn't say "Hello?".
Then did you say "Hello."?
Yes, I said "Hello.".
A punctuation, before the closing quotation mark, for the quoted sentence. And another one, after the mark, for the main sentence. It might have made sense, if only I have ever seen such usage. (Especially the last one, which contains two full stops. It looks so wrong.)
Answer
This is a matter of style. Consult your style guide, either the one you've adopted or the one thrust upon you. I use The Chicago Manual of Style:
When two different marks of punctuation are called for at the same
location in a sentence, the stronger mark only is retained.
Example:
Who shouted, "Up the establishment!"
The question mark that ordinarily appears at the end of an interrogatory is omitted. I infer from this rule the following:
Who said, "Up the establishment"?
The exception is a period that ends an abbreviation, which is retained thus:
He said, "I don't work for Dewey, Cheatham and Howe, Ltd."!
unless it abuts a period that ends a sentence:
I don't work for Dewey, Cheatham and Howe, Ltd.
No comments:
Post a Comment